CVE-2026-98655
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: perf: Require kernel access for text poke events Perf events with exclude_kernel=1 can be opened without kernel perf access. However, exclude_kernel does not suppress text-poke sideband records. Every PERF_RECORD_TEXT_POKE is marked PERF_RECORD_MISC_KERNEL and contains a raw kernel instruction address. An unprivileged task can therefore open and mmap a task-local software event with text_poke=1. Both opening a count-only tracepoint event and configuring UDP GRO for ESP-in-UDP cause updates to inline static calls; the observer receives the relocated addresses of the modified instructions. For a known kernel image, any such address reveals the runtime kernel text base despite KASLR. Call perf_allow_kernel() whenever attr.text_poke is set, regardless of exclude_kernel. Events that neither monitor kernel execution nor request text-poke records retain their existing permissions.
Affected versions
Linux kernel versions
5.9
and later are affected. Fixed in
6.12.113,
6.18.56,
7.2.10,
7.3
and their respective stable series.
References
4 totalFrequently asked questions
-
What is CVE-2026-98655?
CVE-2026-98655 is a unscored severity Linux kernel vulnerability . It affects Linux kernel versions from 5.9 onward and has been patched in 6.12.113, 6.18.56, 7.2.10 and others. CVE-2026-98655 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
-
Is there a patch available for CVE-2026-98655?
Yes. CVE-2026-98655 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.12.113, 6.18.56, 7.2.10 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 5.9 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.
-
Is CVE-2026-98655 actively exploited?
No. CVE-2026-98655 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.